Best Bicycle Water Bottles: Stay Hydrated While You Cycle

Staying hydrated is important to body function no matter who you are, but if you are active, it is even more so to pay particular attention to your fluids for proper body function. It doesn’t take lok to break a sweat when out bicycling, and whether you hit the road or trail, you want to know that you have something to drink nearby that doesn't interrupt your exercise.

Some of the best bicycle water bottles reviews are listed below to provide you an overview of what is out there for your biking experience. Having a bottle that works well for the amount of water you want to carry, is easy to transport, and fits your hand well are important considerations.

Best Bicycle Water Bottle Comparisons

Brand

Details

Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 24 oz
  • Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 25 oz
  • Warranty: lifetime guarantee

Via Velo Bicycle Reflective Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 26oz
  • Warranty: 3 years

Schwinn Bicycle Water Bottle

  • Weight: 7.2 ounces with cage
  • Insulation: no
  • Ounces: ~24oz
  • Warranty: n/a

NGN Sport - High Performance Bicycle Water Bottle

  • Weight: 6.4 oz
  • Insulation: no
  • Ounces: 24 ounces
  • Warranty: lifetime warranty

The Importance of Hydration

Your body is dependent upon fluids for survival- even more so than your nutrition (although that’s pretty important too) Every function of your body is maintained through the water that moves through your cells, ensuring your heart, brain, organs, and muscles are working as they should. A healthy person requires 30 to 50 ounces of water a day, and less can result in dehydration, constipation, and a feeling of sluggishness as your body tries to reserve what it has- working harder to complete proper body function.

Your water intake should rise as your body heat does- such as during the summer months, when you are working out, and other situations create a situation where you sweat. Sweating is your body’s natural way to help keep it cool, but also more quickly depletes what fluids you do have.

How Much to Drink When Cycling

There are quite a few studies in reference to how much water you should drink while cycling, but all agree that your fluid intake should be spaced out, with about 8 ounces every 20 minutes or so is better than drinking a lot all at once. Too much fluid intake at one time can create stomach issues and discomfort- which is something you definitely want to avoid. Too little and your muscles may begin to cramp and overheating can occur.

Hydrating in advance of a long workout will help prep your muscles to have them at optimal performance prior to your ride. Approximately 16 to 64 ounces of fluid taken every hour during a ride should be considered - depending on the heat index being worked within. There is no exact science to this as every person will lose fluids at different rates from one another based on gender, body weight, and personal fitness levels.

Why Use a Water Bottle?

Obviously, in order to hydrate when biking you would need to stop your cycling in order to take a drink without a portable water source. Water bottle designs and shapes allow them to fit easily into mounted cages for rider access. These cages can be placed in various places for easy access in order to bring what water you need on a long ride with you.

Water bottles are also easy to grasp and lift, making them an ideal choice to drink from while biking. Since a few gulps is all you need every so often, their snap top designs make this an easy task to undertake without having to use both hands.

The Influence of Weather

Obviously, weather plays into the amount of water required to keep your body correctly hydrated. Hot weather requires more water intake than cool weather, yet cold weather may actually make your thirst feel less, especially if your water is beginning to freeze.

These types of details are important to consider to ensure you find a bottle that works not only to hold the water you need, but to keep it at a temperature that is best utilized by your body. You don't want to cause a chill (in the case of winter riding), but you also want to be refreshed by your fluid intake.

How to Choose the Best Cycling Water Bottle for You

Much of what goes into choosing the best water bottle for you surrounds personal preference. The shape, color, and design are all things that make a bottle more, or less, appealing to many. But you also may want to consider how much water is held, if insulation is included, and how easy it is to grip. Some bottles don’t fit into all cages either and require their own. But, not matter whether you are hitting the road, or trail, you should carry water with you at all times.

  • Are you regularly involved with long rides?
  • Do you ride in hot climates?
  • Is winter riding a possibility?

Long rides require more water, and if you do ride for longer lengths of time, you should do your math in advance to determine approximately how much water you should be consuming each hour.

Top 5 Bicycle Water Bottle Reviews

To say there are MANY water bottles available to choose from is an understatement. There is just about every shape, size, and color available that boasts just about every feature you can think of in relation to hydration- and can fit within just about any budget. The following picks are amongst the most favored.

Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 5.6 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 24 oz
  • Warranty: Lifetime guarantee

This BPA free, 24 ounce insulated water bottle mimics the original design made by the Polar Bottle Company to provide a dependable drinking experience. With a wide mouth top that can accommodate ice cubes, dishwasher and freezer safe, this is a bottle that doesn't require any fancy care. The double walled insulation keeps heat out, and cold in- plus the reflective outer layer keeps away the heat from the rays of the sun.

Insulated bottles also keep your water from freezing, and this bottle is excellent in any weather condition. The easy grip design fits well in bike cages, and the pull top provides easy one handed access to drinking and securing. It also is available in a ton of colors.

Pros

  • Free cap replacement through the company
  • Keeps water from freezing very well
  • Easy to use when on the go

Cons

  • Over time the lid may begin to leak (free replacements however)
  • Water may not stay very cold, but cool

Who Should Purchase This

This is a good all around bottle choice for all your outdoor needs. It is rugged and large enough for a longer ride, plus it is well insulated for all weather use.

CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 25 oz
  • Warranty: lifetime guarantee

CamelBak is a name synonymous with hydration, and is a popular brand for water bottle needs in all kinds of climates. The double walled construction keeps your water cold when it’s hot out, and room temp when its cold out. The self-sealing jet valve top allows you a no spill experience, and can handle vigorous shaking for mixing drinks- and an easy stream, of water to drink from without splatters.

An easy grip, easy squeeze design is made for biking, and one handed access. It also fits well into most standard bottle cages. Easy access top doe require a brush to get it clean, but ensures you have a clean drinking experience.

Pros

  • Easy to grip and drink from
  • Keeps water chilled and from freezing
  • Good choice for long rides

Cons

  • May be too tall for certain bikes
  • Might have slight plastic taste
  • Difficult to clean

Who Should Purchase This

All season bike enthusiasts should consider this insulated choice that provides an easy to use design that fits most bikes well.

Via Velo Bicycle Reflective Insulated Water Bottle

  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Insulation: yes
  • Ounces: 26oz
  • Warranty: 3 years

The reflective design of this bottle is made for low light conditions to help with your visibility. The double insulated design helps keep your water cool, and from freezing, and comes with its own cage for a stable hold even over rough terrain. The wide mouth top fit ice cubes, plus the valve is easy to operate with one hand.

Dishwasher safe, this is an easy to care for product without any special needs for cleanliness. BPA free and FDA approved, you have a worry free drink experience that carrie sno plastic taste with it. 

Pros

  • Dishwasher safe
  • Highly reflective
  • Easy to use while cycling

Cons

  • Cage may not fit other bottle types

Who Should Purchase This

If safety and reflective features are important to you, then this is a good choice to consider. Large enough for long rides, it also helps keep things cold on hot days.

Schwinn Bicycle Water Bottle

  • Weight: 7.2 ounces with cage
  • Insulation: no
  • Ounces: ~24oz
  • Warranty: n/a

Schwinn is a popular bike name for both leisure and more serious cycling. This bottle holds approximately 24 ounces of water, and although uninsulated, is freezer safe and can handle freezing some water in it prior to filling up for a colder drink experience while on a ride. It also is dishwasher safe and cleans easily.

Designed for easy use and grip, rubber textured designs ensure you get a good hold on your bottle while in use. This also makes it excellent for one handed use and has a nozzle that doesn’t spill even when open.

Pros

  • Nice grip and easy to use one handed
  • Durable, but easy to squeeze
  • Freezer and dishwasher safe

Cons

  • Rubberized grips may dry out and peel over time and use

Who Should Purchase This

This is a good, simple, water bottle design that works for little hands as well as for adults. The grip is a nice touch and although may not last as long as more expensive choices, mounts well for use on any terrain.

NGN Sport - High Performance Bicycle Water Bottle

  • Weight: 6.4 oz
  • Insulation: no
  • Ounces: 24 ounces
  • Warranty: lifetime warranty

Created for lightweight, easy to squeeze and squirt fast access to water, these bottles are ideal for any sort of biking experience. Available in multiple colors, this simple design fits in most universal water bottle cages, and hold 24 ounces - and is guaranteed not to drip or leak.

The design is easy to grip when on the go, ad the top is wide enough for ice cubes. It also is dishwasher safe, and can be put in the freezer. The BPA free plastic is guaranteed not to split or break for long lasting, durable wear. They also are available in a variety of colors.

Pros

  • No plastic taste and easy to grip
  • Very secure valve
  • Easy to freeze

Cons

  • Water warms quickly in hot temps
  • May collapse a bit as you drink

Who Should Purchase This

This is another great choice for all around use to help hydrate quickly. If you want a no frills, dependable squeeze water bottle choice, this is a decent one to consider.

Conclusion

Staying hydrated is crucial when engaging in strenuous activities. Biking keeps you moving constantly for hours at a time, and requires regular hydration, and rehydration, to keep your body functioning properly. Your choice of water bottle, whether insulated or not, is a personal preference depending on the climates you bike within.

If you have a favorite bottle you cannot do without, or prefer one we have mentioned, please let us know below. And please share!